• About TTT
  • Work With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Meet Our Travel Writers
  • Travelers – How Can We Help?
  • Partner Testimonials
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Texas Travel Talk

Let's Talk Texas Travel!

We are your resource for fun destinations to visit in Texas and community events all over the lone star state.

  • Home
  • Texas Destinations
    • Abilene
    • Alvin
    • Bastrop
    • Baytown
    • Beaumont
    • Brazosport
    • Columbus
    • Conroe
    • Decatur
    • Dripping Springs
    • Galveston
    • Gonzales
    • Marble Falls
    • McKinney
    • Mesquite
    • New Braunfels
    • Palestine
    • Pearland
    • Plano
    • Port Arthur
    • Rockport-Fulton
    • San Angelo
    • Seguin
    • South Padre Island
  • Talk About Texas
    • Texas Foodie
    • Texas Recipes
    • Hotels and Resorts
    • Recent Article
    • Outdoor Activities
    • Pet Travel
    • Holidays
    • Texas Christmas
    • Texas History
    • Texas State Parks
  • Texas Today
  • Travel Tips
You are here: Home / Everything Texas / Texas History / Pioneer Village In Gonzales, TX

Gonzales Outdoor Activities Texas Destinations Texas History

Pioneer Village In Gonzales, TX

Pioneer Village Living History in Gonzalez, Texas

Explore Pioneer Village Living History in Gonzales, TX.

If you ever get the chance to visit Gonzales, TX, the county seat of Texas Independence (not San Antonio, as many think), be sure to put the Pioneer Village Living History Center at the top of your must-do list.

Gonzalez, Texas, is a small town in South Texas but with much to celebrate. It’s one of the earliest Anglo-American settlements in the Lone Star State. Gonzales is the “Lexington of Texas” because it was the site of the first battle in the Texas Revolution and boasts its nickname strongly today.

Related: Top Things To Do In Gonzales With Kids

 

Pioneer Village Living History Center in Gonzales Texas

What Is The Pioneer Village In Gonzales, TX?

Pioneer Village is an open-air living history museum. It boasts a collection of houses and buildings in Gonzales County from the 1800s and early 1900s. Visitors who stroll through The Village will feel like they have just entered the same era.

Each structure has been donated to Pioneer Village and was carefully relocated to the grounds for its preservation. Most of the furnishings and equipment found within these structures were either loaned or donated to help represent the cultural lifestyle of the pioneers who settled in this area. It gives excellent insight into life before we had so many modern conveniences.

You’ll be able to go inside different buildings of an era, like the blacksmith shop, saloon, and Hamon church, a cypress-sided building still used for special events and weddings. If you are lucky, you’ll be able to spy several demonstrations during your visit, learning how Texans in centuries past lived and worked.

Texas Travel Tip: Make plans to visit Pioneer Village on the first Saturday in October – during the famed Come and Take It Celebration weekend, where you will discover a battle reenactment. More below.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Pioneer Village?

Pioneer Village is super fun any time of year, but the BEST time to go is during the Come & Take it Celebration in October.

Come and Take It Reenactment

Come And Take It Celebration In Gonzales, TX

For over 200 years, Gonzales has celebrated this pivotal event. The town center has food vendors, concert stands, and an old-school carnival. A parade marches alongside Civil War homes, and a reenactment plays at the Pioneer Village. It is historical fun for all ages from morning until night.

The Annual Come and Take It Festival in Gonzales, TX, is a celebration that commemorates the first shot fired for Texas Independence.

The live re-enactment of the “come and take it battle” is realistic without it being scary. There are so many people dressed up in period costumes that you might feel out of place in your shorts and tee shirt (and yes, it’s hot in Gonzales, TX, in early October, and that is probably what you will be wearing.)

You can witness the discussion of the community leaders about whether to relinquish their cannon to the Mexican Army or make them “come and take it.” Spoiler alert: it’s the latter.

Guests will witness a battle re-enactment, complete with gunfire and cannon fire. Guests can watch from a safe distance, but you’re still pretty close to the action…it is loud, though.

The Come & Take It Celebration for 2022 is from September 30 – October 2.

Pioneer Village Living History Center in Gonzales Texas

This little lass was straight out of 1832.

Visiting Pioneer Village During Christmas

Another great time to visit Pioneer Village is during holidays when you can enjoy Stars in the Village. We loved seeing the old church decorated for Christmas. On select December nights, you can see Santa, eat cookies, roast marshmallows, pop popcorn over an open fire (seriously awesome, by the way) and see some beautiful Christmas lights.

Please check out the Pioneer Village in Gonzales website to plan your trip.

 

Pioneer Village Living History Center in Gonzales Texas

The re-enactment of the famous “come and take it” battle is authentic.

What’s The Cost Of Pioneer Village Living History Center?

Regular admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children (the website doesn’t specify the cutoff age to get the child rate). Docent-led tours (which I recommend) are just $6 for adults and $4 for children.

Editor’s note: Please check the website for updated prices (if any).

Special events like Lights in the Village and Come and Take It may be priced separately throughout the year. Check out the Pioneer Village Website or the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce website. More events are happening throughout the year in this small town in Texas. I hope you can make it to Gonzales, TX, soon!

We got lucky on a cold winter afternoon and had the place (and the docent) to ourselves.

More Info On The Pioneer Village

Pioneer Village works closely with the city of Gonzales and is a nonprofit. Donations on top of the admission price are welcome.

You can also check out the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce website to find out what’s happening in town when you pass through. Be sure to read the event section for upcoming events in town. There’s a lot to see!

PIN IT!


Leave a Comment

About Jill Robbins

 Jill Robbins is a freelance writer living in the suburbs outside San Antonio. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, SheKnows, HuffPost, San Antonio Magazine, and other places.

« 4th Of July Celebrations In Texas
Best McKinney Texas Restaurants on the Square »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Welcome To Texas!

Hi. Texas Travel Talk is proud to present fun places in Texas to spend a vacation, a weekend getaway, or a day at a festival, picking strawberries, or perhaps walking through Texas Bluebonnets, and a whole lot more!

Howdy, I'm Kim Croisant, girl boss, editor, and writer of this site. We hope these articles inspire you to start planning your next Texas vacation. Read More…

Lastest Articles

  • Best Things To Do On The Gulf Coast
  • Texas Wildflowers And Where To Find Them
  • Gaylord Texan Resort Family Review
  • Things To Do In Marathon TX
  • Texas Festivals And Events
  • 2023 Texas Travel Bucket List

Going Camping? You’ll Need The Latest Gear.

thenomadik.com

Tags

Austin Beach Birding Camping & Glamping Central Texas Christmas East Texas Fall Travel family travel Festivals in Texas Gulf Coast Hidden Gems Hiking Holidays Kayaking Lakes Mother-Daughter Trip North Texas Resort Small Town South Texas Spring Break Spring Travel Summer Texas Bluebonnets Texas Girlfriend Getaways TX Hill Country Waterparks West Texas Wineries

Past Articles

January 2023
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Dec    

More Texas Travel

What to do in Rockport-Fulton with Kids

Things to do in Rockport-Fulton with kids to keep everyone happy! We were asked

Mother-Daughter Trip To Palestine, TX

You'll love how we spent our mother-daughter trip to Palestine, TX. Our

Hot Air Balloon Festivals In Texas

Up Up & Away - Check out these Texas Hot Air Balloon Festivals. Incredible hot

Pick Your Own Berry Farms In Texas

Summertime brings so many pick-your-own berry farms in Texas. There are a lot of

Texas Towns With Special Titles

How many Texas towns with unique titles do you know? Some Texas towns boast their

  • Terms & Condition
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 to Present · Texas Travel Talk

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in